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With so many appliances in your home, repair costs can easily pile up. So apart from making sure that they are used for their intended purpose, you need to be well versed in the ways you can save significantly on appliance repairs.

Do not skip the preventative maintenance.

One sure way of incurring expensive and recurring repair costs is by avoiding the preventative maintenance. Almost all appliances you have in your home will require preventative maintenance at one point or another. For example, your HVAC system’s filters need some changing at least three times in a year. One way of knowing when this should be done is by checking the user manual. Also, a reputable appliance repair technician in Salt Lake City or any other state can advise you on this.

Hire certified technicians.

Some of the repair issues can be minor and hence can be easily fixed by DIY appliance repairs. However, a wise DIYer knows his or her limit and will not hesitate to call a professional if necessary. The technicians you hire should not only have a good reputation, but they should also be certified and qualified to handle your kind of appliance. One benefit of hiring such a technician is that their services come with a warrant, which means you can save on future repairs.

Buy wisely.​

First, there is the buying before it comes to repairs. Make sure that you buy your appliances from reputable dealers. This will ensure that the service warranty given is not only valid, but it runs for the required amount of time. Also, you can talk to experts on the best brands to buy for a particular appliance. This will ensure that the spares are cheap and readily available which will go a long way in reducing your repair costs.

Appliances make your life easy and cozy, so you need to keep them running as efficiently as possible. However, as much as repairs are inevitable at some point, the above tips will ensure that you do not have to break the bank just to keep them running.

A standing pilot light is a constantly lit flame that enables a furnace to ignite your burner. While standing pilot lights are efficient, it sometimes goes out and needs relighting. Before you relight it, however, it’s a good idea to investigate why these outages happen to determine if you need professional help or not. Below are some common reasons for standing light pilot outages:

Condensation Issues

Burning fuels generate trace water that could accumulate over time and lead to condensation. In some cases, moisture could build up and then drip onto the pilot light, and therefore extinguishing it. Having sufficient airflow in your furnace could help get rid of moisture-related issues.

Gas Pressure Problems

Inconsistent pressure could result in the pilot light malfunctioning. Higher than normal flames mean too much pressure, while small and weak flames mean insufficient gas pressure. In most cases, inconsistent gas pressure indicates issues with other systems related to your HVAC. Consult a licensed HVAC technician for a proper diagnosis.

While a faulty standing pilot light is an inconvenience, it’s not something to worry about. If there’s no smell of gas in the air, it’s probably a minor problem that you could address by relighting or consulting with a professional technician. If the pilot light doesn’t stay lit or goes out regularly, it’s best to seek a professional to properly diagnose the issue and fix it.

A bed and breakfast proves to be one of the most exciting businesses that appeal to both young and old entrepreneurs. Aside from it requiring smaller investments than hotels, it provides you more flexibility as a business owner. However, with the increasing number of B&Bs opening, you need to think of value-adding ways to be a top choice for guests.

Offer some care package

When it comes to B&Bs, it’s really the little things that count. For a warm welcome, offer some care package to your guests. It could be refreshments, an assortment of soaps or massage oils, or simple merchandise with hand-written notes. It doesn’t have to be grand; just be thoughtful.

But one great addition is a walk-in tub that will benefit travelling seniors and individuals with mobility problems alike. Heavenly Walk In Tubs says this kind of bathtub will make it easier for the elderly and handicapped to freshen up and at the same time, relax in a good soak.

Offer tours and services

Connect with local providers and suppliers so you can attend to the different needs of your guests. Services may include airport transfers and city tour. You can also ask shops to consign in your B&B, so guests don’t have to go out for some pastries or coffee.

Have a lovely bridal suite

Generate more revenues by styling one of your rooms for brides-to-be. Make it look sophisticated and picture-perfect. Make it dramatic with a canopy. This would definitely be a hit.

When the weather starts to get warmer, our thoughts turn to spending more time outside to bask in the sun. Putting up an umbrella on your lawn and removing it when cold weather comes just does not do it for some home-owners who wish to have an outdoor space that is well-designed and functional.

One option that lets you enjoy the outdoors during warmer days and protects your home during the colder months is to invest in a patio enclosure, which blocks moisture and limits exposure to the elements.

Placing a patio where you need it to be

A patio is commonly placed adjacent to the house for easy access, but you have the option to place it away from the house if you want a greater level of privacy for the space.

Creative a cohesive design

Before you start to actually design your outdoor area, consider the architectural style of your home and how you can extend that style to your yard. Stick to the dominant colour scheme of your indoor space and integrate that into the design of the exterior space.

It is important to stay consistent with the architectural design and colour scheme to be able to create a cohesive area outside. Do not worry because you can always find materials to match your interiors if you stick to using the same colour palette. You can also add plants as accessories to the area.

Layout and lighting

Just like indoor spaces, outdoor rooms have basic elements such as floors, ceilings, and walls. You need to refer to the layout of your outdoor space in planning the transition between the indoor and outdoor areas. Take note of any slopes and steep hills when measuring the outdoor space so you have a clear picture of its size and dimension.

When it comes to planning the lighting of your exterior living space, the goal is to create an ambience that encourages your family and friends to relax. For this purpose, you can use subtle down lighting. Attach lights to the trees outside and position them downward to achieve that moonlight effect.

Design an outdoor kitchen

An outdoor kitchen will allow you to bring the fun of cooking and grilling outside the home, and it will impress guests when you’re entertaining. What is great about bringing a kitchen outside is that you can be as creative as you want with the overall aesthetic of your cooking area. You can opt for a rustic look using wood and brick or a modern aesthetic using sleek stainless steel.

If you are looking to entertain guests and utilise the outdoor kitchen in warm weather, a fully equipped kitchen will be ideal for you.

These are just some possibilities that open when you install a patio in what otherwise may have been an unused space.

Your patio is a place that you usually relax in after a hard day’s work. It is where you hang out with your family to unwind after a stressful week, so you must make sure that everyone will feel comfortable during your meet-ups on the patio.

Create an Organised List

Determine what you want your patio to be: will you be eating on the patio with your family and friends all the time? Do you need it to look like some space to accommodate your friends during wine nights? Or do you want it to be a peaceful corner wherein you can just relax and read a book?

Determining what you want your patio to be can help you decide what furniture to get. Once you have answered the question above and you are sure what you want your patio to be, then go ahead an create a list of the type of furniture that you will need for the said events.

Go for Quality Pieces

It is easy to be tempted to buy cheap and affordable furniture, especially if your budget does not allow you to get expensive furniture. However, investing in quality furniture can help you save some money in the future. Think about it – you will have less maintenance and upkeep, and you won’t have to keep on buying new ones just because your old ones are on the verge of breaking apart. Save some money and invest in high-quality furniture rather than settling for cheap and easily-damaged ones.

Get Dual-Purpose Furniture

This is especially helpful if you have insufficient patio space. Look for ones that have different uses to maximise your space. For example, if you need more storage, then get those couch and chairs that have extra storage spaces in the bottom. You can also get furniture that can be folded or extended to make sure that you can accommodate more people if need be.

Shopping for furniture can be fun, but you have to remember the small details and be aware of your needs. Happy shopping!

Sleep is necessary for good health, and a good mattress is crucial to achieving enough rest. Since it’s usually covered, it may be hard to tell when your mattress already needs a replacement. Below are four indicators that it’s time to visit your favorite dealer in Salt Lake City for a new mattress.

Aging

Mattresses go through wear and tear with time. When mattresses age, they will bear visible signs such as becoming lumpy, tearing, and sagging. When these are evident, the mattress no longer provides the necessary support and comfort during sleep, and it should be replaced. People who are beyond 40 years should consider getting a new mattress every five to seven years, as the body becomes sensitive to pressure with age.

Insufficient space

If you had a mattress when living alone but now you have a pet, spouse or children who make you teeter on edge, it’s time to get a bigger one. When your life situations and demands change, so should your sleeping resources. In case the size you have currently seems impractical, get yourself a new mattress.

Reactions

With time, mattresses gather residuals and dust mites. These may trigger allergic reactions and symptoms such as sneezing, coughing, irritation, and congestion whenever you go to bed. If a regular vacuuming and dusting schedule doesn’t seem to help, it’s time to get a new one.

Poor sleep

An appropriate mattress ensures that you get a good night’s sleep and that you wake up rejuvenated and ready for the day. If this doesn’t happen and instead you wake up tired, stiff, and numb, it’s probably because you’re not getting proper support. When you realize that sleeping elsewhere gives you a comfortable and restful night, buy a new mattress.

You can use the same factors to consider if your pillows need to be changed too. It’s possible that if the mattress has outlived its usefulness, so have the pillows.

1. Water features help you bond with nature.

Have you noticed how garden water features, such as ponds and fountains, become more beautiful with sunlight? Water features help you bond with nature, as water is believed to make people feel closer to the gods, as some cultures suggest.

2. Water features help your garden cool down, and yourself as well.

Summers can get hot and make gardening less relaxing. If you have some water features, however, it helps cool down your garden. It makes you feel cooler, as well. Of course, remember that if you want your garden fountain to cool you down, the water needs to be clean and crystal clear.

3. Water helps soothes your soul.

Flowing water is a great source of white noise that can help soothe your soul. After a long and tiring day, you can do some gardening and enjoy the white noise to help reduce your level of anxiety. Water features can also become a good relaxation spot for you and your family.

There are many water features you can add to your garden, but fountains are one of the grandest. Don’t worry if you don’t have a big budget for it, you can settle for smaller sized fountains that fit your space and budget.

It’s all thanks to your home’s plumbing network, particularly the water heating system, that you can enjoy the luxury of hot baths and showers, have fresh laundry, clean kitchen and dining wares, and an overall clean and healthy home.

These alone should already make you more attentive to the health of your water heater, seeing as even the smallest issues with it can already impact the overall comfort and convenience you enjoy. One way to prevent more serious problems is to know how to spot issues – and how to address them before they worsen.

Here are some of the signs that should prompt you to have a licensed Orem plumber assess and carry out the necessary repairs on your hot water system before they become safety risks.

You can’t remember when the last time a plumber checked the anode rod

It’s vital to have a professional inspect the water heater’s anode rod regularly, or you run the risk of having the entire water tank go into disrepair. An anode rode may be expendable, but for the simple, yet crucial role of attracting the contaminants that the water carries. It’s designed to disintegrate after several years, and your role is to replace it before it completely does. Failure to do so can result in the rusting of the tank’s internal lining.

In the event, you can’t remember when the last time you had this important part checked or replaced, then now is the best time to do so.

Inefficient heating

Although inefficient heating can result from some causes, such as low pressure or simultaneous use, a common reason is extensive scaling. This is especially true for homes that receive water with a considerable hardness rating. Another possible reason is leakage, which is even more serious, since this can also lead to water damage.

Knowing how to detect problems early on can make all the difference in your water heater’s performance and lifespan. So, as soon as you notice the symptoms above, contact a licensed plumber right away.

Sleep hygiene, according to studies, can help anyone get the sleep they deserve or at least maximize the hours of their slumber. It all comes down to following healthy habits (or good sleep hygiene practices) before going to bed. One good strategy is training your body to go to sleep and wake up the same time every day, even on weekends.

2brothersmattress.com and other mattress stores in Salt Lake City share other strategies that can offer a long-term solution to sleep difficulties:

Avoid caffeine, nicotine, and alcohol.

Skip caffeinated drinks (coffee, tea, and soft drinks) as well as cigarette a few hours (between four and six hours) before bedtime. Both can interfere with your ability to fall asleep. Alcohol, meanwhile, can compromise your sleep quality.

Sleep only when tired or sleepy.

It is best to try to sleep only when you are actually sleepy or exhausted. This is better than spending too much lying awake in bed and trying so hard to fall asleep.

Use the bed for sleeping.

Avoid using your bed for anything apart from sleeping and sex. Don’t use it for working, eating, and other things. You should also consider replacing your mattress if it doesn’t offer enough support for your body.

Establish a soothing routine.

Relaxing activities before bed can help ease the transition to sleeping time. These include taking a hot bath, reading a book, and doing some relaxation exercises. Be sure to avoid mentally-draining and stressful activities.

Don’t watch the clock.

Frequent checking of the clock during the night can only stress you and make it hard for you to fall asleep. It also reinforces bad thoughts, as you’ll recognize how late it is and how much time you have left for sleeping.

Exercise regularly.

This can help you sleep faster, as well as improve the quality of your slumber. Morning is the best time to exercise, but if you don’t have time early in the day, be sure that you finish your workout three to four hours before bedtime.

Eat right.

If having an empty stomach before bedtime is distracting for you, it is a good idea to have a light snack. Be sure to avoid heavy meals before sleep, as they can interfere with your sleep.

Apart from these habits, you should make your bedroom comfortable for sleeping. It should be dark, quiet, and cool enough. Don’t hesitate to replace your mattress and pillows, especially if you’ve been using them for a long time or if you usually wake up with body aches.

When shopping for new HVAC equipment, most people focus on the type they need and the highly rated brands available. They often forget the need to consult with an experienced heating contractor in their search.

A qualified contractor should first check the unit you want to replace. The professional should also perform a full home assessment to ascertain your home’s square footage, insulation, and age to determine your real heating needs. Here are the main benefits of engaging a heating expert before checking out furnaces in St. Louis.

Improved energy efficiency

Whether you’re going to replace or have your old furnace repaired, a heating contractor can help you improve your home’s energy efficiency. The recommended energy efficiency enhancements will let you save money on new heating equipment because you may now buy a smaller unit.

Properly sized equipment

The size of a furnace system indicates how much heat you can expect the appliance to put out. Installing the correct size of the furnace is essential to the reliability and efficiency of the system. It will also maximize your comfort and cost of heating savings. Talk to a professional and get a perfectly sized appliance that will heat your home efficiently, evenly and cost-effectively.

Potential delayed replacement

Good reasons to replace a furnace include an old or worn out system and significantly inefficient or improperly sized equipment. However, it’s important to talk to a contractor before you start shopping for a new furnace. There could be cost-effective measures that could help your equipment heat efficiently for a few more years.

Before purchasing new heating equipment or even modifying your existing unit, first talk to a trusted heating contractor. The heating expert can help you make significant energy efficiency improvements, and correctly size and install your new furnace.